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BABIN: Iran deal undermines America’s security and must be rejected
The Pasadena Citizen
By Brian Babin | Member of Congress

President Obama’s announced “nuclear deal" with the Islamic Republic of Iran must be reversed as it paves the way for a nuclear-armed Iran and threatens the security and safety of the American people.

By legitimizing an Iranian regime that sponsors terrorism throughout the world, routinely chants ‘death to America’ and is responsible for killing hundreds of American service members, the President has set the world on a dangerous and treacherous path.

In April, U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz promised that international inspectors would have ‘anywhere, anytime access’ of Iran’s civil and military nuclear sites under any agreement. Unfortunately, this deal sets forth no such requirement.

The fine print of the deal leaves decisions about access to senior Iranian leaders who have said that inspectors will not be permitted to inspect military sites, even ‘in their dreams’. Historically, Iran has used military bases to hide their nuclear program and block access to such sites by international inspectors. This deal codifies this practice, allowing Iran to continue enriching uranium in secret facilities. The Administration even agreed to Iranian demands that no American citizen can be a part of any international inspection team that enters the country.

For other facilities that inspectors want to see, Iran essentially gets a 24 day heads up – more than enough time to move their contraband. It would be foolish to suggest that U.S. law enforcement give drug kingpins a 24-day notice before a raid – so how could you justify giving a terrorist 24 days to move their nuclear weapons equipment?

This agreement also fails to secure key requirements that force Iran to dismantle their bomb making technologies, cap their enrichment capacity, and restrict their nuclear research and development. Instead, Iran will be one small step away from a nuclear bomb, setting off a nuclear arms race throughout the Middle East, which is already a powder keg of conflict and war.

Furthermore, this deal fails to even secure the release of the four American hostages being held by Iran’s government – and has no acknowledgement by Iran of Israel’s right to exist.

By providing the Iranian regime with over $100 billion in relief from international sanctions, this deal creates a massive new revenue source for the Iranians and their continued financing of terrorism across the globe.

The State Department’s 2014 Country Report on Terrorism sites Iranian involvement in terrorism in various groups throughout the Middle East, as well as Africa, Asia and Latin America. These funds will no doubt fund a new generation of terrorists within Hamas and Hezbollah who are committed to the destruction of Israel.

Remember, Iran came to the negotiating table as a result of bipartisan Congressional sanctions and international pressure that took a decade to effectively implement. With one swipe of the pen, the President has erased these hard-fought efforts and removed pressure on Iran, squandering a key opportunity to secure the end of Iran’s nuclear weapons plans.

I heard Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu loud and clear when he told a Joint Session of Congress earlier this year that “no deal is better than a bad deal.” Regrettably, that is not the path the President chose.

Europe initially chose the path of appeasement with Adolf Hitler, only to find itself engaged in another World War. Appeasement emboldens bullies, terrorists and dictators.

It is the duty of the Congress to live up to the oath we swore to defend this nation against all enemies foreign and domestic. The failure to vote to stop this deal and over-ride the expected veto by the President is a violation of that oath.

With a sixty day review period set before Congress votes to approve or disapprove the deal, I’ll be leading the charge to expose and defeat this terrible deal to protect the safety and security of the American people.